Ahmady, who also serves as a top official in an al Qaeda-linked Yemeni political party, did not attend because of visa issues. The State Department said it could not comment on visa matters.

Several Al Karama officials have faced terrorism allegations. Al Karamas founder and current president Abdul Rahman Naimi was designated as a terrorist and al Qaeda supporter by the U.S. Treasury Department in December, along with the groups Yemen representative Abdulwahab Al-Humayqani. Al Karamas legal director, Rachid Mesli, is currently wanted for terrorism charges in Algeria.

Schakowskys office referred questions to Grayson and Lee, saying the other offices led the briefing.

A spokesperson for Grayson said Ahmady did not actually attend the briefing and that the terrorist designation of Al Karamas president was not in place at the time of the briefing, so again, we had no reason to suspect any wrongdoing on the part of Mohammad [Al Ahmady].

Schakowsky's office referred questions to Grayson and Lee, saying the other offices led the briefing. A spokesperson for Grayson said Ahmady did not actually attend the briefing and that the terrorist designation of Al Karama's president was "not in place at the time of the briefing, so again, we had no reason to suspect any wrongdoing on the part of Mohammad [Al Ahmady]."

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